Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Rappahannock Community College

Rappahannock Community College's nursing assistant program produces first-year earnings of $33,051—roughly $11,500 below the Virginia median for this credential and in the bottom quarter of similar programs statewide. While the debt load is relatively modest at $9,567, graduates earn 25% less than peers at other Virginia community colleges, and nearly $29,000 less than top programs like Piedmont Virginia Community College. This earnings gap compounds over a career and suggests the program may struggle with clinical placement quality or geographic job market access.

The financial fundamentals look manageable at first glance—a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.29 means graduates could theoretically pay off loans within four months of full-time work. However, that calculation assumes earnings in the $40,000+ range typical of this field, not the $33,000 reality here. When your starting salary is 15th percentile nationally, even low debt becomes harder to service while covering basic living expenses.

For families considering this program, the question is straightforward: can your student access one of Virginia's stronger nursing assistant programs instead? The earnings difference between Rappahannock and the state median represents about $11,000 annually—money that matters significantly at this income level. If location constraints make this the only viable option, understand you're accepting below-market outcomes in a field where better-performing programs are widely available across the state.